The National Council on Health (NCH), on Tuesday, approved the Health Sector COVID-19 Pandemic Response Action Plan, to curtail the spread of the pandemic. The Action Plan was designed by the Ministry of Health and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 as an effective response to fight the pandemic.The National Health Council consists of the Minister of State for Health, State Commissioners for Health of the 36 States, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory. The Secretary of the Council is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting said: “Based on the technical presentations, states’ updates, and deliberations at the meeting, the Council approved the Health Sector COVID-19 Pandemic Response Action Plan.
“The Council noted the development of the Health Sector COVID-19 Pandemic Response Action Plan and the proposed establishment of Community Support Centres (CSCs), in the first instance, in high burden states (Lagos, Kano, and FCT) towards reducing community transmission of COVID-19.”
However, the Council said the COVID-19 Community Support Centres (CSCs) should not be established as parallel centres but as additional options to relieve the burden of service delivery on existing facilities.
It also resolved that states are to own and lead the implementation of the COVID-19 Community Support Centres (CSCs) where desirable.
Council also noted the progress of work and support by all stakeholders and challenges encountered in the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic across the states of the federation.
The meeting agreed that the Federal Ministry of Health will share a Template on Needs Assessment and Daily Reporting Format on Case Management to facilitate decision making for Federal Government support to states.
source: Nigerian Tribune